Better Not Be a Banana Split

February 2018

KANNAPOLIS

Dole is trying to sell Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on an offer to bake them a banana cake for the royal wedding in May. The offer follows a rumor that the couple was going to break with tradition and, instead of celebrating with the traditional tiered fruitcake, serve something “banana-flavored.” Seizing the marketing opportunity, Dole offered the services of Mark Allison, director of culinary nutrition at the Dole Nutrition Institute in Kannapolis. Allison is considered a leading authority on cooking with bananas and other fresh fruits and vegetables. He revealed he’s toying with a couple of recipes: One would be a royal twist on traditional banana cake, and the other is a gluten-free recipe. He would build at least three tiers and match the icing to the bride’s dress and flowers. Bananas appear to have special meaning to the couple. Markle posted a banana meme after the two started dating; and the prince, according to a former palace chef, liked banana everything as a boy. As part of its petitions for royal indulgence, Dole has already launched a banana meme campaign on social media.